22 Macleay Street Potts Point is a seven-level apartment block whose site was laid out in the 1820s along the ridge formerly known as Woolloomooloo Hill a name which distinguished it from working class Woolloomooloo in the valley below.

In the 1830s the ridge area was divided into large allotments and up to 15 grand villas were built around Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay including Alexanders Macleay’s heritage Elizabeth Bay house.

After the 1840s depression and 1850s gold rush these allotments were again sub-divided. The first subdivisions of Macleay’s estate occurred in 1865. This included the eastern side of Macleay Street, called the “Elizabeth Bay Estate” allotments.

22-24 Macleay Street was part of the first round of sub-divisions.

Subsequently, two stuccoed villas, “Bothwell” and “Carlsbrook” were built it the Italianate style typical of the late Victorian period on the current site.

These were demolished in 2007 and replaced with the current prestige apartment block.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions